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Longshoremen along the U.S. East Coast are on strike, and the ripple effects could start hitting grocery store wallets. The strike began at midnight on October 1, shortly after existing labor contracts expired, and affected several major ports, including busy ports in New York, New Jersey, and Georgia. These are important entry points for a variety of imported goods, from fresh produce to processed foods. This means supply chains for many everyday items may be disrupted, leading to shortages and delays until workers can negotiate deals and get back to work.
When certain items are in short supply, the grocery store may need to raise prices or find other, more expensive suppliers to compensate (such as fresh produce or coffee, which the grocery store (Focus on items that increase the price the most). Large chains like Walmart and Costco may rely on their own vast inventories or pay to ship goods to non-strike ports. But if the strike continues, the strain on the supply chain is likely to worsen, and the price hikes will be passed on to shoppers.
Read more: American foods that are surprisingly hard to find in Canada
Things to stock up on during a port strike
Cart full of shopping bags – Stokkete/Shutterstock
Since we don’t know how long the strike will last, it may be wise to stock up on certain groceries while you can. Experts say to be wary of products that are often imported, such as fresh fruits such as bananas, citrus fruits and berries, which are often shipped from Latin America. Other items that may be affected include frozen seafood, coffee, and chocolate. If you tend to buy these things regularly, now is the time to stock up or make other plans. For example, if you can’t stand without bananas, stock up on non-perishable alternatives like sweetened banana chips or freeze-dried bananas. You can also freeze perishable items (beware of the common mistakes everyone makes when freezing fruit).
Alcohol is also a major import that may be affected, especially if you are interested in foreign drinks such as rum, Scotch or European wine. Luckily, there are plenty of cities in the U.S. with some of the best beers, so choosing a local beer may help you find a new favorite.
It’s also wise to consider stocking up on long-term shelf-stable foods such as canned goods, pasta, and rice. Further tightening of the supply chain could make these food items difficult to obtain. We’re not saying you need to start panic buying or stocking up, but being mentally prepared (and pantry ready) will help you deal with potential food shortages in the future. Possibly.
Read the original article on Mashed.
